Question VII: Whether hope is at times formless

I assert most certainly that Hope is at times unformed.

It is proved first by St. Bonaventure from St. Augustine de vera Innocentia, where he attributes being unformed to Charity alone.

Second, because just as formed Hope arises from formed faith; so unformed Hope ought to arise from unformed faith: But unformed faith is granted, as is said 1 Corinth. 13. Therefore.

Third. For thus Hope arises from faith in rewards, just as fear from faith in punishments: But fear can be unformed: Therefore.

Fourth. For many sinners hope that they will obtain mercy and glory; But this act ought to arise from some good habit, because it rectifies the power to the Divine rule, which most of all forbids despairing of the mercy of God. For thus also faith strengthens reason to believe the things revealed, even when stained by deadly sin. And the Holy Doctor concludes that those things which were said of unformed faith are to be applied to Hope.

You will object first. Hope is a certain expectation of glory proceeding from grace and merits; as is said in the definition of Hope.

The Holy Doctor answers in four ways that hope arises from grace and merits; Either as they are had in act, and this is the formed faith of the iusti emeriti: Or as they are had in proposal, and in root; but not in effect, and thus he who was lately justified has merits, has the root of grace, but has not yet exercised the virtues: Or someone hopes from merits in proposal; but not in effect, nor in the root of grace; and this is unformed faith: Or one hopes without merits even in proposal; and this is presumption. Since therefore Hope is defined expectation from merits, it is defined from merits, at least in proposal.

And by this he answers the second, opposing that Hope without merits is evil.

You will object second. With the proximate subject disordered, the virtue existing in it is taken away; but Hope is in the affect; therefore, this being disordered, Hope is taken away together with charity, which, if faith remains, this is because it has being also in the intellect.

The Holy Doctor answers that Hope remains even when Charity is destroyed, because it stands in awaiting eternal things; but this stands without Charity; just as it stands to believe the things revealed without sanctifying grace. Therefore the ratio of the subject is not adequate, because the affect disordered in loving can be with some order to hoping from merits, certainly in proposal.

You will object lastly. Faith is then formed, when it does not believe God, but believes in God, tending to him: Therefore Hope, which tends to God, is always formed.

The Holy Doctor answers that the perfect tendency is from grace; but this tendency is not in him who believes and hopes, while he is in sin.